Parents kissing their baby is normal, but at the same time, it is essential that the parent safeguards the baby from contracting hazardous infections. One of the key points you should consider is not letting anyone kiss your baby on or near the mouth, specifically during the initial three months of birth.
During the first month of life, also ask visitors to avoid kissing around your infant's mouth and eye area. And request that people with cold sores steer clear of your kiddo until the lesions are gone. Don't forget to sign up to receive our free Parents Daily Baby newsletter.
In order to prevent serious health issues, anyone and everyone, including parents, should avoid kissing babies. Due to the rise in cases of RSV and other illnesses, it's extremely important for all individuals to be aware of the dangers of kissing babies.
Dr Prasad says to prevent serious health consequences, everyone, including moms, should avoid kissing infants early on. He notes that given the rise in RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) and other illnesses, it is critical that everyone is aware of the dangers of kissing newborns.
02/4Why you should not kiss newborns
Newborns have a weak immune system, which makes it crucial to take extra care of them in the first few weeks. Exposure to any kind of virus and bacteria can put their life at risk.
The dentists have advised that parents refrain from kissing their children on the lips, particularly before their baby teeth have developed, as they could spread harmful bacteria to their young ones. Before the first tooth appears, a baby's mouth is usually free from cavity-causing bacteria.
Newborn babies have a weak immune system, which makes them easily prone to viral infections. The first month is pivotal, and therefore, it is best to prevent anyone from kissing the baby on the face (12).
Kissing, sharing drinks, or transferring things from mouth to mouth can transmit RSV. Washing your hands, covering your coughs and sneezes, and avoiding contact when you are sick will decrease the spread and help protect our littlest family members.
The lip-restraining guidance is most pertinent to people outside an infant's household, experts told me, which can include extended family. Ideally, even grandparents “should not be kissing on the baby for at least the first few months,” Tan told me.
Caption: MIT neuroscientists have identified a specific signal that young children and even babies can use to determine whether two people have a strong relationship and a mutual obligation to help each other: whether those two people kiss, share food, or have other interactions that involve sharing saliva.
Showing Your Baby Physical Affection Teaches Them Empathy
When a mother shows her baby love by kisses, hugs and the like, it shows the baby that being sensitive to others needs and feelings is important. This in turn can help them relate as well as interact better with those around them.
Mothers and fathers can often confuse being attentive to a newborn or toddler's needs with smothering or spoiling the child. There is a widespread sentiment that too much warmth and affection will lead to a child who is too needy or 'clingy'. But according to experts, this notion is false.
“Parents should show love and affection in front of their children. Simple things such as hugging, kissing and holding hands show that you care about that person.
It's about comfort and culture. It is not inherently wrong for a father to kiss his daughter on the lips until the day he dies. All six of us kids, two boys and four girls, kissed our dad on the lips until the year he died at 90. When either party feels uncomfortable, that would be a time to stop.
So ask politely, be firm and stick to your guns. Explain that your request for them to refrain from kissing their grandchild isn't one that will last forever, just until they are older and their immune system is stronger. Everyone who comes into contact with your baby should follow safe hygiene practices.
Psychologist Charlotte Reznick explained to news Australia that lips and mouth are personal boundaries. So, kissing a child on the lips may create an impression that anyone can intrude into their personal space and body. The child can also develop the inability to say no.
If your child starts crying as soon as you kiss or hug your partner, it is definitely a sign that your child wants more attention. This doesn't necessarily mean that you aren't giving your child enough attention already.
There are no set rules about how long to wait before taking a newborn out into the world or when to let people near the baby. Some doctors recommend that parents wait until their baby is a few months old before going to crowded public places (like malls, movie theaters, and airplanes).
For the first six weeks, do not apply any pressure while giving your baby a head massage. Just pat the oil gently onto all parts of the head and let the oil soak in on its own. Once your baby's head hardens, you can gently press with your fingers in small circular movements as you move around your baby's head.
When can a newborn go outside in public? As for taking baby out to public places, it's recommended that you avoid bringing them into congested spaces, if possible—at least until they've had their first round of vaccinations.
As long As the child does not object then there is nothing wrong with it. The father may come from a culture where that is done. Generally, a father kissing his son on the lips is not something that happens in the “American” culture-however that is defined. That does not mean there is anything wrong with doing it.
Just because the practice of platonic kissing isn't familiar to you doesn't mean it's not common elsewhere. "Platonic lip kissing is found in cultures around the world, between friends, family, and sometimes even strangers as a means of greeting," says Allison Moon, author of "Girl Sex 101."
But there's no evidence to suggest that you should stop kissing your baby or stop friends and family from kissing her. Put simply, your baby will not be at an increased risk of SIDS from a kiss.